Miami-Dade commissioner's nephew among teens injured in shooting

Teens shot at during armed robbery on Bird Road, police say

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The nephew of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr. was among two teens injured Monday afternoon in a shooting on Bird Road, Local 10 News learned Tuesday.

Police said both teens survived the shooting, which occurred during an armed robbery in the parking lot of Frankie's Pizza at 9118 Bird Road.

Surveillance video shows the teens pulling into the parking lot in a white Lexus and leaving, but they returned about 10 minutes later. 

According to authorities, the 18-year-old and 19-year-old victims were sitting in the Lexus when two men in a black SUV pulled up to the victims' car and got out of their vehicle.

Police said one of the robbers pulled out a gun and both demanded the victims' property.

As the victims tried to drive away, the armed robber fired at the Lexus, striking both teens, authorities said.

"I went inside and told my husband, 'Hey, there's a weird car parked there,' because there's not supposed to be any cars here today. It's Monday. The pizzeria is closed," a witness, who did not want to be identified, said. "So by the time I went to turn around, I heard the two gunshots and I came running outside."

Miami-Dade police said the 19-year-old driver was grazed in the face by a projectile and the passenger was shot in the leg.

Police said the victims drove to Kendall Regional Medical Center, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

"No one was here. My employees are safe, which I am grateful for. All my customers are safe," Frankie's Pizza owner Roxanne Pasquarella said. "I am concerned for the young men and their families." 

The driver was released from the hospital Monday, and the other teen is listed in stable condition.

Bovo issued a statement Tuesday saying the incident was a personal family matter that is being handled privately.

"My family and I deeply value the outpouring of support and prayers that we've received about my nephew," Bovo said.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with further information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
 


About the Authors:

Roy Ramos joined the Local 10 News team in 2018. Roy is a South Florida native who grew up in Florida City. He attended Christopher Columbus High School, Homestead Senior High School and graduated from St. Thomas University.

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.